Chapter 2: How to Live Without a Phone!

Chapter 2: How to Live Without a Phone!

When Chen Shijin opened his eyes again, he found himself no longer in that pitch-black Land of Exile but in a clearly modernized world.

Skyscrapers, streets, crowds, the setting sun – everything seemed normal, except for one utterly abnormal thing right before his eyes.

Staring back at him.

Chen Shijin: "..." What the hell is this thing?!

In front of him was a grotesquely deformed 'Big-Eyed Person' whose eyes were so large they nearly filled its entire face, bulging out at least three centimeters.

At that moment, this person was grinning widely, stretching out both hands excitedly "watching" him.

"His perspective was a bit unique."

"His two eyes, one looking from top to bottom and the other from bottom to top, rotated counterclockwise and clockwise respectively for a round before he chuckled and spoke."

"Hello? Could you, um, give me a like?"

"Or, should I, you know, kill you?"

"This 'person' swayed its bulging eyes from side to side and blinked laboriously, presenting an utterly absurd ultimatum."

"Chen Shijin, observing the glaringly bright machete on his left and the social media 'like' page on his right, thought this scenario was even more ludicrous than the proposition."

"Has liking on social media escalated to this level here?!"

"Death for not liking?"

"To like or not to like, that suddenly became the question."

"At this moment, a voice called out eagerly from a distance ahead."

"Run! Don’t look at their phones! And don’t agree to any of their requests about phones! Come to me—use your innate abilities to get here!"

"Chen Shijin was about to follow the voice when the big-eyed figure imperiously blocked his view, pushing the phone and machete closer. Its demand was more aggressive this time:"

"Give me a like, will you!"

"Or get killed!"

"Chen Shijin couldn’t help but twitch his mouth in annoyance."

"Even though Earth was gradually being overtaken by the smartphone-obsessed, this really wasn’t the time to bow down and meet one’s end, brother."

"Anyone with a brain would choose—"

"Like my ass!"

"He chooses nothing!"

"Chen Shijin said as he ran, all the while scanning his surroundings."

"Then he noticed there were a dozen other people on the street being chased by the grotesque big-eyed beings, either to be slashed at or asked for likes, and these people were also trying various methods to escape."

"The first person he saw was a weary-faced young office worker, who, despite looking exhausted, was running quite fast."

"However, he was not faster than the big-eyed creature chasing him. Just as he was about to be caught, the youth yelled excitedly, 'A double holiday of 3+7 equals 8! A double holiday of 3+7 equals 8!!'"

"After the youth shouted, Chen Shijin watched in disbelief as the young man who had been behind him 'whooshed' past him twice, as if the ground beneath his feet had magically shortened."

"Chen Shijin: ???"

"Watching the young office worker sprint ahead uncontrollably plunged Chen Shijin into a confused contemplation, followed by another delivery guy who sped past him and the office worker, breaking what could be an Olympic record."

"Chen Shijin: ..."

"Ah, he remembered now, before he told that voice to shut up, it had mentioned 'awakening the power of talent.'"

"So, were these the talents of those two brothers? Speedy legs and... a double holiday of 3+7?"

"The latter ability seemed bizarrely odd."

"Then Chen Shijin saw a bear-sized man with actual bear paws for hands swat away the big-eyed being's phone and run for his life, a girl with hooves for feet screaming as she leaped over the big-eyed being with astonishing agility, and then there were—"

"Tsk." Bad luck.

"There's even that green tea cousin and the trashy doll's betrothed fiancé."

"But thinking about it, it's quite likely that these two were struck by lightning and drenched in rain right before me, falling into the same place and being swallowed by the same monster."

"I'm curious to see what kind of talents they have."

"At this moment, Lyu Jun and Liu Dakai had neither the leisure nor the time to watch others' dramas; they were running desperately towards the direction of the voice, their faces pale."

"Lyu Jun, being shorter and with stubbier legs, was running slightly slower than Liu Dakai, with the big-eyed creature almost catching up to him."

"Without looking back, Lyu Jun could feel the danger. He glared resentfully at Liu Dakai's indifferent back, screaming uncontrollably, 'Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! Tea aroma overflowing, tea aroma overflowing, tea aroma overflowing!! Smell me! I’m full of enchanting tea fragrance!!'"

"Chen Shijin: '...'"

"Stunned, bro. What an accurately bizarre confession."

"But the next second, Chen Shijin saw a faint green light emitting from Lyu Jun's body. When the big-eyed creature sniffing around caught the scent of the green light, its previously ferocious and frenzied face suddenly showed an intoxicated expression, starting to daze off on the spot."

"Wow."

"Not gonna lie, my green tea cousin's 'Tea Aroma Overflowing' skill is pretty, well, practical."

"Lyu Jun escaped the big-eyed creature's like-seeking crisis through his tea fragrance, dashing forward in one breath. Meanwhile, Liu Dakai, gasping for air, was about to be caught by the big-eyed creature chasing him."

"Chen Shijin watched with interest. Does this trashy fiancé also have a special self-rescue skill?"

"Unfortunately, not everyone is a green tea or a lotus."

"Even though Liu Dakai also screamed out his skill in terror: 'Hearing from all directions! Hearing from all directions! Ahhh don't kill me I can hear other people's footsteps ahh go chop someone else!'"

"But the big-eyed creature following him was unaffected, its eyes bulging three centimeters out and excitedly spinning at the sight of the reachable back. It raised the watermelon knife in its hand and chopped down towards Liu Dakai's back!"

"Aaaaah—"

"Blood instantly stained Liu Dakai's expensive white shirt red."

"'Like, or, shall I, kill you?'"

"The big-eyed creature that had chased Liu Dakai knocked him to the ground, then actually extended the watermelon knife and a smartphone towards Liu Dakai's face again. Only this time, the knife was smeared with crimson blood."

"Liu Dakai's face twisted in pain, 'Like! I’ll like it for you!! Don’t chop me! I’ll like it!'"

"He harbored deep resentment, cursing Lyu Jun who had run past him without a second glance. He loathed even more the man who had yelled at them not to like."

"Why tell them not to like? Why burden him with such a heavy mental load from the start?!"

"Thus, Chen Shijin and those who had reached a place of safety saw Liu Dakai tremblingly press 'like' on the smartphone screen of the big-eyed creature, teeth gritted."

"As his finger touched the screen, the crazed, bizarre big-eyed creature began to roll its eyes and chuckled eerily, 'hehehe,' then reached out its overly muscular arms to help Liu Dakai up."

"Alright, alright, you liked it, so now, we're friends."

"Hehehe, you are, my, friend!"

"He gave Liu Dakai a hearty pat on the shoulder, taking a long, satisfied look at Liu Dakai's eyes, hands, and head before turning away contentedly."

"Then, Liu Dakai, gasping for breath and feeling like he had narrowly escaped death, saw Chen Shijin silently watching the commotion from less than three meters away at a diagonal angle in front of him."

"Liu Dakai: !"

"Chen Shijin: ."

"The expression on Liu Dakai's face swiftly changed from horror to shame and anger within a second."

"'Chen Shijin! You're here too!'"

"Chen Shijin gave him an elegantly fake smile and turned to run towards the hotel in front. Liu Dakai, watching his calm and composed figure, changed his tone in anger, 'Why aren’t the monsters chasing you?!'"

"Why do you, mute, get to not be chased by monsters?!"

"Liu Dakai was seething with resentment, and it was at this moment he noticed the monster that had been obsessed with Lyu Jun's tea fragrance had snapped out of it. With its previous target gone, the bulging-eyed creature had now turned its gaze towards Chen Shijin."

"Without a second thought, Liu Dakai blurted out, 'Go after him! He can give you a like! Hurry, chase him!'"

"Why should he be the only one forced to like for the monster? Why was he the only one facing unknown threats and fears? Wasn’t Chen Shijin his mute fiancé? Then he should share the same dangers!"

"Hearing Liu Dakai's words from afar, Chen Shijin could only scoff coldly. Trash will always be trash, and he wasn’t surprised by such a reaction at all."

"Nevertheless, Liu Dakai's words acted as a catalyst, reminding the big-eyed creature, and soon Chen Shijin could hear the panting and heavy footsteps coming from behind."

"'Be careful!'"

"'That freak has set its sights on you!'"

"'Run faster! Use your abilities!'"

"Several people inside the hotel's front doors couldn’t help but shout out."

"Lyu Jun also stood behind the glass door, watching Chen Shijin with a complex look and flickering eyes."

"Meanwhile, Liu Dakai was grinning excitedly behind them."

"Yes! That’s it! Catch him, slash him! Or make him like it just like he did! This mute deserves punishment for mocking him!"

"Watching the big-eyed creature getting closer to Chen Shijin, Liu Dakai’s smile grew more excited. He was about to see Chen Shijin's panicked and disgraceful face, soon he wouldn’t be the only one forced to like for the monster!"

"After all, what kind of impressive special ability could a mute, who couldn't speak a word, possibly have?"

"Under Liu Dakai's malicious anticipation and the varied expressions of the people in front of the hotel, Chen Shijin, who had been running at a steady pace, suddenly stopped."

"He turned abruptly, raising his hand in front of him. With a slight flick of his slender, fair fingers towards the big-eyed creature that had raised its knife:"

"[Explode!]"

"Boom—"

"A tremendous explosion burst forth from the body of the big-eyed creature, followed by raging flames engulfing it!"

"Under the incredulous gazes of everyone, the big-eyed creature that had been chasing people in disarray started howling, clutching its burning eyes, and within seconds, turned into a pile of black ash."

"As the big-eyed creature turned to ash, Chen Shijin felt a cold energy flow into his body, and at the same time, that annoying voice he had silenced before started up again."

"[...You have killed a level 1 anomaly 'Bulge-eye,' and absorbed its residual energy.]"

"[Current energy level: 1*&￥%#@????]"

"[Detection error, re-detecting...]"

"[Current energy level: 9*@￥!????]"

"[Detection error! Target undetectable! Initiating new smart algorithm!]"

"[Current energy level: N+10]"

"Chen Shijin: '...6.'"

"If that 'N' represents him, then this voice is quite intelligent indeed."

"Moreover, the notion of 'absorbing residual energy' and the newly acquired 10 points of energy is quite intriguing."

"If that's the case, he thinks he understands the meaning behind the phrase 'To devour and be devoured is an endless fate' in the land of exile."

"This world is like a dark ocean, where all life forms are swimming fish."

"Big fish eating small fish or a school of small fish killing a big one is the essence of this world."

"The roles of devourer and devoured are not fixed; even if the devoured is swallowed into its world, as long as it doesn’t die, it can slowly consume and counterattack."

"Just like that gigantic monster and the people here, like him and the big-eyed creature in this world."

"Thinking this, Chen Shijin silently chuckled."

"Ah, what kind of gains would there be if he were to reverse-devour this 'monster world'?"

"The energy from that level 1 anomaly felt somewhat like cold noodles."

"If energy had a flavor, hmm... what flavor would he be?"

"Chen Shijin: ."

"Cease the wild thoughts."

"Moreover, he has confirmed the most crucial aspect of this land of exile and the Devouring World."

"Chen Shijin's face revealed an unmasked smile, which then turned into an uncontrollable, radiant laugh. Even his steps became light and bouncy as if he were not in a world of bizarre horrors, but in a paradise of freedom."

"As if he was not in a world of bizarre horrors, but a paradise of freedom."

"Under the utterly shocked and bewildered gazes of the people opposite him, the young man nodded politely."

"'Ladies and gentlemen, good day. Today is truly a splendid day.'"

"Everyone: '...'"

"'This world is also so free and beautiful.'"

"Everyone: '????'"

"Brother, take another look at those big-eyed creatures crazily running around asking for likes before you speak! Are you not mute but blind instead?!!!"